Arly of Thriftsy standing outside her storefront where there are three mannequins in funky print clothing

When on the hunt for unique festival wear, it’s easy to resort to fast fashion - but where is the fun in that? Thriftsy is here to not only create the most unique and sustainable pieces for your next music festival, but to also connect you with other amazing designers and vendors.

GIVE A GIRL A SEWING MACHINE, STAND BACK, AND WATCH HER CREATE A MOVEMENT.

At least, this is true for Arly, the 28 year old creative mind behind Thriftsy, the San Diego festival clothing company specializing in upcycling and embroidery. I fell in love with the colorful world of Thriftsy after swooning over her creations while she was vending at Desert Hearts. The vibrant colors, the fearless fluff, the bold sequins - Thriftsy truly brings a refreshing take to women’s festival clothing.

The Beginning of Thriftsy Clothing

Thriftsy Clothing is an endeavor that started off as Arly’s passion project, and has now escalated into a household name within the Southern California festival scene. Whether you have a specific custom piece in mind or are looking for a simple alteration- Arly is your girl. As someone who has been devoted to the fashion game for __ years, business building has come with relative ease for her. Arly states, “It’s easy to build a following when you love what you’re doing and following your heart.”

Upon receiving a sewing machine as a gift, Arly was ready to dive into the world of clothing. Immediately, she decided to take a sewing class at her local college to really get a feel for the craft, and most importantly, learn how to create the “kimono” she wanted for Burning Man. Well, imagine her excitement when the final project for class was, in fact, creating a kimono. Granted, this meant a traditional Japanese kimono and not a Burning Man ensemble. Nonetheless, Arly did her own thing, and created her version of the kimono. Funky. Fashion-forward. Hooded.

When it came time for her to present the project, naturally her teacher was taken aback by her blatant disregard for “The Rules”. But instead of getting reprimanded, Arly was given the sound advice to “keep doing what you’re doing.”

However, in between her sewing classes and bartending until 2am, Arly was also dealing with a chronic health condition that continuously put her into the hospital. With constant ER visits and surgeries, comes being unable to work a regular job, and she was forced to take a leave from bartending. Arly had been saving for a solo NYE Euro trip and was sure that she would have to use those savings to instead support herself during treatment. However, instead of dipping into those funds or giving up - she used all of this as fuel to start her Etsy shop.

And thus, Thriftsy Clothing was born.

Now, Arly would be able to sustain herself and still fulfill her dream of traveling across Europe all because of her will and ambition. This trip, specifically Berlin and Amsterdam, provided her with vintage goods and flea market finds that really sparked her creativity. Fast forward to the now, and we have the wildly unique and ever-imaginative Thriftsy still doing her own damn thing.

Not Your Regular Festival Clothing

Perhaps the reason Thriftsy is truly one-of-a-kind is because she doesn’t get her inspo from trends or other designers, but textiles. Instead of flipping through fashion magazines, once Arly finds a piece of clothing or a fabric she loves- she spends quality time with it and imagines the possibilities- and then sets out to create. No two pieces of hers are the same, so if you see a Thriftsy item you love- buy it, or regret it. Added bonus: you’ll never have to worry about running into someone wearing the same thing as you. And for those that are shy about dipping their toes into the world of festival fashion, Arly is here to remind you that “As much as you think people are looking at you and judging you, realistically everyone is there for the music. It’s a judgement-free zone.”

So do your thing. Buy the holographic festival clothing. Wear the velvet flares. Rock the fringe vest. Express yourself and know that Thriftsy is here to help you discover how to do that- sustainably. With fast fashion retailers popping up left and right, there are so many clothes that go to waste. Thriftsy’s dedication to upcycling is a step towards consumer awareness and responsible shopping.

Spreading The Love of Festival Fashion

Even in the beginning of her business, Arly was adamant that “Success means being able to support myself. To have a company that people are passionate about, supportive of, and interested in. It’s having people involved. It’s creating a movement.” And after __ years growing her own brand, she is now utilizing her eye for style to help other festival fashion brands gain an audience. Arly has now added Vendor Coordinator to her colorful resume, and is now the woman in charge of connecting San Diego nightlife to other bespoke fashion brands. So the next time you step foot into Spin Nightclub - know that each vendor was handpicked by the keen eye of Arly Stroben.